HOUSTON - Center Valentine Izundu will return to the University of Houston Men's Basketball team for the 2013-14 season, head coach James Dickey announced Thursday.

Izundu competed in 20 games as a true freshman out of Lamar Consolidated High in 2012-13. He ranked second on the team with 22 blocked shots, the seventh-highest total by a Houston freshman in school single-season history.

"We are pleased to welcome Valentine back into our program," Dickey said. "After speaking with him and his family, I believed Valentine to be very sincere in his desire to return to our program and look forward to working with him during our summer workouts in July."

"I want to apologize to Coach Dickey, my coaches and my teammates. Following the season, I made a poor decision and realized quickly that I had made a mistake by leaving," Izundu said. "I am grateful to be given another opportunity to compete with the Cougars and excited to rejoin my teammates and coaches."